1. Taking Effective Notes If you need to remember something for class: If you need to remember something for class: Write it down Review it Organize it Keep it handy Stay on top of your notes! Stay on top of your notes!

2. Take Charge of Your Lectures Commit to class Commit to class Concentrate Concentrate Capture key ideas and listen actively Capture key ideas and listen actively Connect ideas Connect ideas Write them down Write them down

3. To Process Information Efficiently 1. 1.Commit yourself to do your best work. 2. 2.Concentrate to eliminate distractions and focus on the material. 3. 3.Connect new ideas to what you already know. 4. 4.Capture critical information with your pencil or pen I’m here to help!

4. Commit to the Class & the Work Involved Be psychologically ready to learn. Be psychologically ready to learn. Arrive a few minutes early and review your notes and previous reading assignment. Arrive a few minutes early and review your notes and previous reading assignment. Identify areas that are difficult to understand. Identify areas that are difficult to understand. Develop questions that will help you clarify challenging aspects of the material. Develop questions that will help you clarify challenging aspects of the material. Be on time: instructors often review during the first few minutes of class. Be on time: instructors often review during the first few minutes of class.

5. Concentrate on the Material Keep your mind “on-task.” Keep your mind “on-task.” Be aware of distractions & don’t let them have you Be aware of distractions & don’t let them have you Talking to others “off-task” Talking to others “off-task” Daydreaming & doodling Daydreaming & doodling Not paying attention Not paying attention Stay focused! Stay focused!

6. Capture Key Ideas and Listen Actively Identify key words, themes, and main points Identify key words, themes, and main points Recognize organizational patterns in the lecture Recognize organizational patterns in the lecture Relate details to the main point Relate details to the main point Listen for clues Listen for clues Take ownership of the information Take ownership of the information We’reCaptured!

7. Connect Ideas Paraphrase what you hear Paraphrase what you hear Relate key ideas to what you already know Relate key ideas to what you already know Make a note of unknown words Make a note of unknown words Make new ideas into Make new ideas into connected ones

8. Identify Key Words, Themes and Main Points Listen to the ones that the instructor repeats, highlights, or illustrates with examples. Listen to the ones that the instructor repeats, highlights, or illustrates with examples. Many courses have unique and topic-specific words. Many courses have unique and topic-specific words. Listen for new words and phrases and learn their meaning in the context. Listen for new words and phrases and learn their meaning in the context. Look for the broader picture to which the material relates—even if your instructor doesn’t specifically present it to you. Look for the broader picture to which the material relates—even if your instructor doesn’t specifically present it to you. Observe your instructor for clues about what he or she thinks is important Observe your instructor for clues about what he or she thinks is important Look for the keys!

9. This one for sure! Listen for Clues Note when a topic comes up more than once. Note when a topic comes up more than once. Transition words signal the change of topics or new key points: Transition words signal the change of topics or new key points: “in contrast to” “in contrast to” “let’s move on” “let’s move on” “this will be on the next exam” “this will be on the next exam” Lists usually give important material that is easy to test. Lists usually give important material that is easy to test. Instructors are most likely to test on ideas they consider exciting, so listen for special enthusiasm. Instructors are most likely to test on ideas they consider exciting, so listen for special enthusiasm.

10. Develop Your Note-taking Style Successful students take good notes. Successful students take good notes. A successful note-taking strategy reflects: A successful note-taking strategy reflects: the complexity of the course content the complexity of the course content the lecturer’s style the lecturer’s style your own learning preferences your own learning preferences Use any strategy that will help the key ideas stand out for you. Use any strategy that will help the key ideas stand out for you.

11. Choose the Note-Taking Method that’s right for you… The Cornell System The Cornell System Outlining Outlining Summary Method Summary Method Concept Maps Concept Maps Fishbone Diagram Fishbone Diagram

12. The Cornell System Divide your notepaper by drawing a vertical line 2 inches from the left margin. Divide your notepaper by drawing a vertical line 2 inches from the left margin. On the right side, take your notes from class. On the right side, take your notes from class. On the left side, write On the left side, write key words key words questions questions comments comments Examples Examples On the bottom, write a summary On the bottom, write a summary These will make your work easier to review later These will make your work easier to review later Test yourself by identifying the lecture material on the right, prompted by your comments on the left. Test yourself by identifying the lecture material on the right, prompted by your comments on the left.

13. Outlining This is easy to do with a well- organized lecture, otherwise you may have to work a little harder. This is easy to do with a well- organized lecture, otherwise you may have to work a little harder. Use headings and subheadings followed by course material. Use headings and subheadings followed by course material. Your results will be neat, easy to follow notes, providing a clear picture of the information. Your results will be neat, easy to follow notes, providing a clear picture of the information. FormalOutline InformalOutline

14. Summary Method Monitor the lecture for critical ideas. Monitor the lecture for critical ideas. Pause to create your own summary of what has been presented. Pause to create your own summary of what has been presented. This method will force you to determine what is important and how information is related to the topics presented. This method will force you to determine what is important and how information is related to the topics presented. This is an especially effective method for dealing with a disorganized lecture. This is an especially effective method for dealing with a disorganized lecture. Did you get that? No, we’d better summarize!

15. The Concept Map Good listeners in lecture Get rest Avoid distraction Take notes Sit near front Summarize Eat Breakfast Legible Regular sleep Thus provides visual cues about how ideas are related. It is very effective after class, putting your notes in a more visual format.

16. Fishbone Diagram The problem or outcome is printed in the head of the “fish”. The problem or outcome is printed in the head of the “fish”. Identify the primary factors and connect them like ribs to the backbone of the fish Identify the primary factors and connect them like ribs to the backbone of the fish Elaborate each rib with the details related to each primary factor. Elaborate each rib with the details related to each primary factor. Fishbones, yes!

17. Listen Critically During Class Be ready for the message. Be ready for the message. Listen to main concepts. Listen to main concepts. Listen for new ideas. Listen for new ideas. Repeat mentally. Repeat mentally. Ask questions. Ask questions. Respect your own ideas and those of others. Respect your own ideas and those of others. Sort, organize and categorize as you take notes. Sort, organize and categorize as you take notes.

18. Master Note-Taking Strategies Identify the Session Clearly Identify the Session Clearly Reduce to Key Ideas Reduce to Key Ideas Take Notes from All Relevant Input Take Notes from All Relevant Input Don’t Erase Mistakes Don’t Erase Mistakes Use Abbreviations Use Abbreviations Review Your Notes Often Review Your Notes Often Tape Lectures that You Really Need Tape Lectures that You Really Need Be Organized! Be Organized! Request Feedback About Your Notes Request Feedback About Your Notes Keep Evaluating your Note-Taking Strategy Keep Evaluating your Note-Taking Strategy Good notes are essential for good scholarship.

19. Other Note-Taking Tips Write your notes in your own words. Write your notes in your own words. Avoid writing things down that you don’t understand. Avoid writing things down that you don’t understand. Ask questions when you don’t understand. Ask questions when you don’t understand. Think and record information in pictures. Think and record information in pictures. Explain yourself if need be. Explain yourself if need be. Periodically evaluate the quality of your notes. Periodically evaluate the quality of your notes.

20. Short-Term Memory: Listening and Forgetting Most forgetting takes place 24 hours after you see or hear something! Most forgetting takes place 24 hours after you see or hear something! If you don’t review after class, you might have forgotten up to 70% of the material. If you don’t review after class, you might have forgotten up to 70% of the material.